Christ, Your Potentate

(Article for publication week of 3-27- AD 2014)

"Which in His times He shall shew, Who is the Blessed and Only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of Lords; "(I Timothy 6:15).

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Absolute Monarch of the universe. He is the "Kurios." He governs everything and everybody. He raises up kings, and by Him they rule, and to Him they must give account, along with every other man. The government of Christ is an absolute Monarchy, not a "democracy" (the most despicable form of government devised by men). Christ the King shall soon return to judge all His subjects, and deal with them according to their works. The relationship of all men to Christ is the relationship of subject and King, not a relationship of equality.

Now dear reader, I ask you, "what is your response to the rule of Christ?" If you are saved you are thrilled about that. Those who have been saved by grace love their Monarch and want to serve Him. They love Him Personally, and they love His laws that are given in the Bible. The relationship of a saved man to Christ, is that of a loyal subject.

Unsaved men are also Christ's subjects, though rebellious ones. When the King comes He will deal justly with all His subjects. He will say to His loyal subjects who love Him and His laws, "enter into the kingdom prepared for you from before the foundation of the world", and "enter into the joy of thy Lord." To His rebellious subjects He will say, "depart from me ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you"! He will command that the unprofitable servants be bound hand and foot and cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth forever and ever (I shudder to write it!).

Here is what it means to receive Christ by faith. It means to repent of your rebellion against your rightful King, and sue for mercy (for He is a good King who delights in mercy). To receive Christ by faith to the saving of the soul is to bow to Him as your only Potentate. To receive Christ by faith is to submit to His rule and to obey His laws. The sinner who receives Christ by faith loves the Lord Jesus and sees in Him the perfections of God (for He is God). When it comes down to it there are just two kinds of people- those who love Christ and His Monarchy, and those who do not.

Dear readers, the King is coming! Those of you who are saved are looking forward to it. We are looking forward to the Great Day when our Lord will vindicate Himself and show Who the real King is. We look forward to the day when all tyranny shall be put down. We look forward to the day when our King shall trample all His enemies under His Holy feet. Believer, do not be cast down by the temporary setbacks we see around us. We are on the winning side!

I close my article this week with a summons from my King and yours to lay down your arms of rebellion against the only Potentate and sue for mercy. Those of you who will not receive the Lord Jesus Christ are making a serious and eternal mistake. You are on the losing side! Though the world and the devil seem to be winning sometime, they most certainly are not! You better come to the King now and bow down to Him and submit to His rule. You will have to eventually either way. If you refuse to bow now as a loving and loyal subject, you must do as so as a conquered rebel when the King comes. May the Holy Spirit graciously draw you to the King and Saviour.